Diplomatic relations between the forerunners of the modern states of Serbia and Russia date back to the early nineteenth century. The
Russian Empire supported the
Principality of Serbia against the
Ottoman Empire. Prince
Vasily Dolgorukov was sent with a special mission in 1837, and in 1838, Russia opened a
consulate in
Belgrade, upgraded to a
consulate general in 1839.
Gerasim Vashchenko was appointed the first consul, later consul general, to Serbia. ==List of representatives==